Game apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

W. S. HAYNES. GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION IILED JUNE 25. 1906.

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PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

W. S. HAYNES. GAME APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 25, 1900.

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IVILLIAM S. HAYNES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO SOLOMON S. SENNE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GAME APPARATUS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed June 25, 1906. Serial No. 323,384-

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. HAYNns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to a game apparatus, and the object of my invention is to construct a simple, inexpensive, and easily operated apparatus where a series of small objects, such as cubes, marbles, or counters, are thrown into a pocket, or against a curved surface, and to gravitate therefrom onto a flat surface.

A further object of my invention is to arrange simple mechanism for setting a trap door in the apparatus, and simultaneously moving all of the cubes or counters from the table, or flat surface, in the apparatus onto the trap door after the same has been swung into a horizontal plane and set.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple means for releasing the trap door in order to throw the cubes or counters therefrom into the pocket or curved surface of the apparatus. 7

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective'view of a game apparatus of my improved construction; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4.4= of Fig. 2, and showing a spring actuated trigger used for engaging a hook carried by the trap door when the same is set; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the trap door; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken through the center of a modified form of the trap door, the same being adapted to receive spherical counters in the form of marbles.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings :1 designates a box, or a rectangular housing, the upper portions of the side walls, top, and front wall of which are closed, as designated by 2. Horizontally disposed between the lower portion and the closed upper portion of this box is a partition 3, which terminates a short distance from the front wall of the box, and said partition being provided in its rear portion with a longitudinally extending slot 4. This box, or housing, is mounted upon a suitable base 5, and one of the side walls of said box, below the closed portion, is hinged so as to form a door 6, which swings outwardly to allow the mechanism on the interior of the box below the partition 3 to be inspected or repaired.

Located in the rear portion of the box, above thepartition 3, is a pocket 7, which comprises a curved plate 8, preferably constructed of sheet metal, and covered with a thin sheet 9 of rubber or felt, so as to deaden the noise of the counters as they strike against the plate 8. The upper end of this pocket fits against the top of the box 1, while the lower end thereof terminates a short distance above the partition 3.

IIinged upon a pin 10, transversely arranged at the forward end of the partition 3, is the rear end of a trap door 11, which normally occupies an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and which is adapted to swing downwardly into the same plane with the partition 3, and to close the opening in front of said partition. A curved plate 12 is arranged immediately in front of and above this trap door, and the front edge of said trap door rides against the under side of said curved plate as said door swings upwardly and downwardly. Extending from the upper end of the curved plate 12 to the upper forward corner of the box 1 is a plate 13, preferably of glass. Fixed to and depending from the under side of the door 11, adjacent its front end, is an arm 14, the lower end 15 of which is bent into a horizontal plane. Fixed to and extending rearwardly from the under side of the door 11 is a long arm 16 and a short arm 17, the latter being provided with a slot 18. Rigidly fixed on the base 5 in the center of the box 1 is a vertically disposed plate 19, provided with an integral upwardly projecting lug 20, and on its right hand side with a triangular lug 21, the top of which is provided with a strip 22, of rubber, or analogous material. Pivotally secured at its lower end to the right hand side of this plate 19 is a lever 23, which normally lies on the strip 22 of the triangular lug 21, and'secured to the upper end of this lever is the forward end of a retractile coil spring 24, the rear end of which is secured to the rear wall of the box 1. Pivotally con nected to the center of this lever 23 is the rear end of a link 25, the forward end ofwhich is secured to the rear end of a pull-rod 26, which extends forwardly through the front wall of the box 1, and is there provided with a knob 27. Pivotally connected to the lug on the left hand side of the plate 19 is a lever 28, and connected to the upper end thereof is the rear end of a link 29, the forward end of which passes through the slot 18 in the arm 17, and is there provided with a hook 30.

A carriage comprising a block 31 is pro f. f vided on its ends with rollers 32, and is adapt- 20 ed to travel backwardly and forwardly on top of the rear portion of the partition 3. Fixed to and depending from this block 31 through the slot 4 are the bolts 33 and 34, and connecting the lower end of the bolt 33 with the upper end of the lever 23 is a link 35. Connecting the lower end of the bolt 34 with the lower rear end of the lever 28 is a link 36. Fixed to and projecting forwardly from the ends of the block 31 are rods 37, the forward ends of which are fixed to a frame 38, in which is journaled a roller 39, ada ted to travel over the forward portion of tfie partition 3, and the rear portion of the door 11. When the carriage is in its normal position against the rear wall of the box 1, the frame 38 and roller 39 occupy a position below the lower end of the plate 8. Fixed to the lower portion of the front wall of the box 1 is a vertically disposed plate 40, to the upper end of which is pivoted a catch 41, the upper end of which is adapted to engage the horizontally bent end 15 of the arm 14 when the door 11 is swung downwardly. The free upper end of a leaf spring 42 bears against t e rear side of this catch 41, and the push pin 43 operating through the front wall of the box bears against the front side of the lower end of said catch. The forward end of a retractile coil spring 44 is secured to the lower end of the arm 16, and the rear end of said spring is secured to the lower end of the plate 40, which spring normally maintains the door 11 in its elevated position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The operation of my improved game apparatus is as follows :-Assuming that the counters have been thrown into the pocket and gravitated therefrom onto the forward end of the partition 3, and it is desired to reset the trap door and to place the counters thereon, the operator engages the knob 27 and pulls the rod 26 outwardly, and in so doing swings the lever 23 forwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2; and following this movement, the carriage, comprising the block 31 and rollers 32, is pulled forwardly, which consequently moves the roller 39 forwardly over the front portion of the partition 3. As the carriage travels forwardly, the link 36 pushes the lower end of the lever 28 downwardly and forwardly, thus swinging the upper end thereof rearwardly, and the rod 29 having the hook 30 at its forward end, engages the arm 17 and pulls the same upwardly and rearwardly, and in so doing swings the trap door 11 upon the rod 10, and brings said door into a horizontal position into alinement with the partition 3. 'T/Vhen so positioned, the laterally bent end 15 of the arm 14 engages beneath the hook onthe upper end of the catch 41, and thus the trap door is locked in its horizontal position. As the arm 16 is swung upwardly by the downward movement of the trap door 11, power is stored in the coil spring 44. The counters on the forward portion of the partition 3 are e11- gaged by the roller 39, and move over onto the door 11. As soon as these movements are accomplished, the carriage, with the parts carried thereby, and the levers 23 and 28, and connections thereto, will reassume their normal positions, owing to the action of the coil spring 24, which was expanded when the lever 23 was swung forwardly. As the upper end of the lever 28 returns to its normal position, the forward portion of the rod 29 will move through the slot 18 in the arm 17. T 0 release the trap door to throw the counters into the pocket, the operator pushes the outer end of the pin 43, and in so doing releases the catch 41 from the bent end 15 of the arm 14, and the power stored in the coil spring 44 will instantly swing the trap door 11 upwardly and forwardly to its limit.of movement, and this sudden release causes the counters carried by the door to be propelled rearwardly into the pocket 7. After striking against the curved surface of the plate 8, they will roll downwardly on the lower portion of said plate, and finally pass onto the forward end of the partition Where spherical counters are made use of in my improved game apparatus, the trap door 11 is provided with a series of longitudinally extending grooves, as seen in Fig. 7, which grooves receive the spherical counters when moved thereonto by the action of the roller 39.

The covering 9 for the plate 8, and the strip 22, proved game apparatus practically noiseless when in operation, and the entire apparatus is simple, inexpensive, easily actuated, and throws the counters rapidly and accurately without the necessity of handling said counters.

I claim 1. In a game apparatus, a housing, a series of counters, a spring actuated trap door arranged to operate therein for throwing the render the mechanism of my im counters, means whereby said door is set and released, a pocket arranged in the housing opposite the door, and means whereby the counters are positioned on the door after their passage through the pocket; substantially as specified.

2. In a game apparatus, a housing, a series of counters, a spring actuated trap door arranged to operate therein and to throw the counters, a pocket arranged in the housing opposite the door, means whereby the trap door is moved into a horizontal plane, a re leasing mechanism which engages the trap door while in a horizontal position, and means whereby the counters are moved from I 5 the bottom of the pocket onto the trap door while in a horizontal position; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of 20 two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM S. HAYNES.

Witnesses:

M. P. SMITH, E. M. HARRINGTON. 

